Michigan National Championship Odds: Wolverines +3500 after unconvincing Week 1 win

The reigning National Champion Michigan Wolverines failed to convince fans and experts in a 30-10 Week 1 win over Fresno State, and their odds have grown longer as a result.

Michigan is now +3500 to repeat as National Champions after having entered the season at +2500.

Before Week 1, new Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore did not name a starting quarterback. Instead, he platooned Davis Warren and dual-threat Alex Orji.

Warren completed 15/25 passes for 118 yards and a TD, and he played more than Orji did. Orji completed 1/2 passes for three yards and a score, and he carried the ball five times for 32 yards.

The Wolverines opened the game with a three-yard touchdown pass from Warren to RB Donovan Edwards less than four minutes into the first quarter, but they only scored through field goals from then until midway through the fourth quarter.

Star tight end Colston Loveland caught a pass from Warren over halfway through the fourth quarter to make it a two-possession game, then an 86-yard pick-six by standout cornerback Will Johnson less than two minutes later sealed the deal for the reigning champions.

Michigan only scored two offensive touchdowns in the whole game. The only time that happened in their National Championship-winning 2023 campaign was in the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa - who had the fourth-best defense in the country - and Michigan won that game 26-0 anyway.

Early-season growing pains are understandable for Michigan considering the program lost head coach Jim Harbaugh, starting QB JJ McCarthy, and star RB Blake Corum this offseason.

The defense, which retained many of its key players from 2023, managed to perform well. Josiah Stewart had two of the team's three sacks, and the team intercepted two passes including the game-sealing pick-six by Johnson.

Michigan now turns its attention to Texas in Week 2, and the Wolverines open as +200 underdogs as a result of the Longhorns' comprehensive 52-0 Week 1 win over Colorado State and the fact the team returns its starting QB from last year, Quinn Ewers.

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Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.